Europe is experiencing extreme weather conditions in the current month of July. In the north of the continent, temperatures are far below average, with significantly more rainfall than normal, while the south is battling heat waves and forest fires, reports Euronews.
In June, Belgium marked its ninth consecutive month with above-normal rainfall, a new record for the country, the longest in 119 years. In mid-June, a month's worth of rain fell in just one week, causing flooding in several regions.
The month was also much less warm than a typical June - a situation that also applies to much of the rest of northern Europe, where temperatures are still unable to break the 20C mark in many places.
While northerners are still waiting for a typical summer to begin, countries to the south and east are already sweltering and facing problems of their own.
The latest report from the EU's Copernicus Climate Office clearly shows that the month was warmer globally than any previous June on record.
In fact, it was the 13th consecutive hottest month on record. Sea surface temperatures in the North Atlantic also rose to their highest level in more than 40 years.
Overall, the months July 2023 to June 2024 were the warmest on record, reaching 0,76C above the 1991-2020 average and a further 1,64°C above the pre-industrial average .
Heat waves and wildfires in the south
Spain, Italy and Greece remain some of the most popular summer holiday destinations. The reason? They provide the type of trips that the majority of Europeans generally want – sun and beach holidays, says the European Tourist Commission (ETC).
But could the extreme heat put tourists off? Looks like yes. The ETC reported that the number of tourists heading to southern Europe is down by 10 percent from 2022 as climate and weather fears begin to affect ordinary people.
"Extreme weather conditions and transport disruptions are major concerns for 10 percent of Europeans who want to travel in the coming months. 76 percent of respondents reported adapting their travel habits in response to climate change. 17 percent said they would avoid destinations with extreme temperatures, a figure that rises to 32 percent for the over-55s, indicating that older travelers are most concerned about coping with high temperatures,” ETC said.
This year, heatwaves have already hit parts of Europe earlier than ever before. Regions of Greece, Cyprus, Turkey and Italy are already suffering from extreme heat, with some places seeing temperatures 10C above the season's average. Those extreme temperatures have led to numerous fatalities, including six foreign tourists found dead this year in Greece after going on a hike. Many others have disappeared under similar circumstances.
High temperatures combined with strong winds sparked wildfires near Athens, the Greek capital, and in the Turkish district of Izmir, residents and vacationers were forced to evacuate their homes.
In France, just weeks before the start of Olympic Games in Paris, organizers are said to be concerned about the safety of athletes due to potential record high temperatures. They have now allowed states to order portable air conditioners at their own expense to ensure they stay in a cool environment.
In Spain, authorities have released a new map to help more accurately predict heat waves and prevent illness and even death.
Fatal storms and floods in the north
Extreme weather across Europe has claimed at least seven lives in storms in Switzerland, France and northern Italy. Earlier this month, the bodies of three people were found after a landslide in the Fontana area of the Magia Valley in the southern Swiss Alps. A man whose body was found in a hotel in the Swiss alpine resort of Saas-Grund is believed to have been surprised by floods.
Northern Italy has also been wreaked havoc by floods, thunderstorms and landslides. Italian firefighters in the northern Piedmont region said they had already carried out around 80 rescue operations so far this summer, evacuating dozens of people. Only in the region Vale d'Aosta several villages remained isolated due to overflowing streams.
Three people in their 70s and 80s died when a tree crushed the car they were traveling in during the fierce winds in the northeastern French region of Aube.
What's behind the extreme weather in Europe this summer?
According to Inverto research, from 2021 to 2023, the number of extreme weather events in Europe increased annually from 11 to 442 recorded events. This includes instances of large hail, heavy rain or snowfall, destructive lightning strikes, droughts caused by hot weather – and even tornadoes. Such events are disruptive to both the economy and livelihoods. A single hailstorm in 16 near the southeastern Spanish city of Valencia caused around 956 million euros worth of damage.
What affects the weather in Europe?
The climate phenomena El Niño and La Niña are partly to blame for the situation. The globe is currently in a transitional phase between El Niño (a warm phenomenon) and La Niña (a cold phenomenon). In the midst of this neutral phase, El Niño still holds sway, keeping ocean and air temperatures high.
Both phenomena have been found to have a so-called "domino effect". This means that the weather in one place can change the weather in another - for example, reduced rainfall in one place around the world can increase it elsewhere. Europe is also feeling the effects of climate change as the fastest warming continent.
According to the latest data from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and Copernicus, it has warmed at twice the global average since 1991. Both agencies warned that Europe needs to do significantly more to reduce its emissions and continue its transition away from fossil fuels. 23 of the continent's 30 most severe heat waves have occurred since 2000, and five of that number have come in the past three years. Now experts say it's time to act to avoid even more climate disasters across Europe.
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